Fabrication of Larger-area Microlenses Arrays Based on Electric-field-driven Jet Micro-scale 3D Printing Technology

doi:10.3901/JME.2021.23.195

Abstract

Abstract: Large-area circular, cylindrical and gradient index microlens arrays (MLAs) have a wide range of applications in naked-eye 3D, optical sensing, bionics and medical endoscopes. However, simplification, low-cost, and high-efficiency manufacturing of large-area and multi-type MLAs still remains challenges in academia and industry. A novel large-area and multi-type MLAs fabrication method based on electric-field-driven jet micro-scale 3D printing technology is proposed. A series of experiments are conducted to reveal the influence law of process parameters (driving voltage, air pressure, printing speed) for the fabricated MLAs with different types. As results, the success fabrication of circular MLA with area of 120 mm×120 mm and cylindrical MLA with area of 100 cm×45 cm on glass substrates can be achieved easily via the proposed method and the optimized process parameters. Large area circular MLA can also be fabricated on flexible PET substrate with printing area of 160 mm×160 mm. Moreover, the fabrication of gradient index MLAs with the gradient of refractive index of 0.1 can be realized through multi-layer printing mode of electric-field-driven jet micro-scale 3D printing. All the fabricated large-area MLAs have good geometric and optical properties. The proposed technique is a promising novel tool for the inexpensive and widely-suited fabrication method of large area and multi-type MLAs, which provides a brand-new solution for MLA manufacturing.

Key words: large-area microlens arrays, electric-field-driven jet 3D printing, circular microlens, cylindrical microlens, gradient index microlens

CLC Number:

TH164

LI Hongke, HU Yujie, ZHU Xiaoyang, LAN Hongbo, LI Zhenghao, YANG Jianjun, ZHANG Yuanfang, PENG Zilong, LI Zongan, YANG Jiquan. Fabrication of Larger-area Microlenses Arrays Based on Electric-field-driven Jet Micro-scale 3D Printing Technology[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2021, 57(23): 195-208.

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